As laptops are becoming more portable and lightweight they are losing many of their interface options. This where CalDigit's US$199 Thunderbolt Station comes in.

The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station brings back those missing laptop interface connections, and streamlines them into a portable aluminum device. By connecting the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station to a Mac you can add three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, and Audio In/Out.

The HDMI port on the unit supports resolutions of 2560x1600. The HDMI port is handy for situations when you need to expand your monitor set-up. It also supports HDCP playback that enables you to play content such as iTunes movies on a HDMI display. If you also daisy-chain a Thunderbolt monitor alongside a HDMI monitor you can have up to a maximum of three displays including a laptop’s built in display.

The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station’s USB 3.0 ports are 5Gbs. Having the ability to add USB 3.0 connectivity to your computer is useful for users who have a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac without USB 3.0 ports, as it opens the door to connecting a whole host of USB 3.0 peripheral devices. The USB 3.0 ports also bus-power external storage devices, and can charge mobile devices.

The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station features dual Thunderbolt ports in order to daisy-chain it as part of six Thunderbolt devices. The sheer power and throughput of the Thunderbolt interface allows the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station to give users interface expandability in a compact design.

http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation/